Joseph in Prison

“The LORD was with him and extended kindness to him.” — Genesis 39:21

In Egypt, Joseph was sold to a man called Potiphar, an important officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Joseph was a slave now, far from home and his father. But the Bible says something wonderful: “The LORD was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2).

Joseph worked hard, and God made everything he did go well. Potiphar saw it, and he put Joseph in charge of his whole house. God blessed Potiphar’s house because of Joseph.

But Potiphar’s wife began to cause trouble. Joseph was handsome, and day after day she tried to get Joseph to love her, the way only her husband should. Joseph always said no. “My master trusts me with everything,” he said. “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

One day, when nobody else was in the house, she grabbed Joseph by his cloak. Joseph ran away, leaving his cloak in her hand. So she told lies about him. She showed the cloak to everyone and said Joseph had attacked her.

Potiphar was furious. And he threw Joseph into prison.

That doesn’t seem fair, does it? Joseph had done the right thing, and he was punished for it. But even in prison, the Lord was with Joseph and was kind to him. Soon the prison warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners.

One day two new prisoners arrived. One was Pharaoh’s cupbearer, who served the king his drinks. The other was Pharaoh’s baker. One morning Joseph found them both looking very upset.

“Why are you so sad today?” asked Joseph.

“We both had dreams,” they said, “and there’s no one to tell us what they mean.”

“Don’t interpretations belong to God?” said Joseph. “Tell me your dreams.”

The cupbearer went first. “I saw a vine with three branches,” he said. “It budded and blossomed, and grapes grew on it. I squeezed the grapes into Pharaoh’s cup and gave it to him.”

God showed Joseph what it meant. “The three branches are three days,” Joseph said. “In three days, Pharaoh will give you your job back. And when that happens, please remember me. Tell Pharaoh about me and get me out of this prison, because I’ve done nothing wrong.”

The baker’s dream had a sadder meaning. In three days, said Joseph, the baker would be put to death.

Three days later it was Pharaoh’s birthday. Everything happened just as Joseph had said. The cupbearer got his job back, and the baker was put to death.

But the cupbearer forgot all about Joseph.

Joseph stayed in prison for two more whole years. He must have wondered whether anyone would ever remember him. But God remembered him. And God was getting ready to do something amazing.

Read it in your Bible: Genesis 39–40

Dear God, help me to do what is right even when nobody else is. And when I have to wait, help me to trust that you are with me and haven’t forgotten me. Amen.